HHS awards $1.89 billion in grants for HIV/AIDS care and medications

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the release of more than $1.89 billion to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS continue to have access to life-saving health care and medications. The grants are funded through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which helps more than half a million individuals each year obtain clinical care, treatment and social support services.

“These grants will help make a real difference in the lives of Americans living with HIV/AIDS, especially those in underserved rural and urban communities, ensuring they get access to quality health care and support systems,” Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. “The care and services these grants support will help Americans living with HIV/AIDS to live longer, healthier lives.”

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within HHS, oversees the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which provides funding for health services for people who lack sufficient health care coverage or financial resources to cope with HIV disease.

Approximately $1.21 billion will be sent to states and territories under Part B of the Ryan White Program. In FY 2011, $885 million was appropriated for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Part B awards also include formula base grants that can be used for home and community-based services, insurance continuation, ADAP assistance, and other direct services. Sixteen states will also receive Emerging Community grants based on the number of AIDS cases over the most recent 5-year period. Moreover, a total of $8,386,340 in Part B Supplemental grants was awarded to 36 states and territories that demonstrated need based on the severity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the state/ territory, including service needs of emerging populations, unmet need for core medical services, and unique service delivery challenges. These grants provide supplemental funding to address specific needs, including projected ADAP shortfalls and additional core medical services. For a list of Part B awards, visit: www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2011tables/110926hivaids.html#finalpartb.

From the ADAP appropriation, 30 Part B States and Territories will receive $40 million in ADAP Emergency Relief Funding (ERF) for the purpose of eliminating or reducing ADAP waiting lists and/or supporting cost containment strategies to prevent implementation of a waiting list. For a list of ADAP ERF awards, visit: www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2011tables/110926hivaids.html#partbadap.

A total of $645 million was awarded to 52 cities to provide core medical and support services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS under Part A of the Ryan White Program. These awards go to eligible metropolitan areas with the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS and to transitional grant areas experiencing increases in HIV/AIDS cases and emerging care needs. The Part A awards include $49.6 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative to improve access to care in disproportionately impacted communities. For a list of Part A awards, visit: www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2011tables/110926hivaids.html#finalparta.

Seventy-five percent of Part A and B funds must be spent on “core medical services,” which include outpatient HIV/AIDS primary medical care services, prescription drug assistance, health insurance assistance and medical nutrition therapy. The remaining 25 percent pays for support services that help people living with HIV/AIDS achieve desired medical outcomes. These services include but are not limited to respite care, medical transportation and linguistic services.“The Ryan White Program plays an important role in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. “These funds will help link those affected by HIV/AIDS to the continuous and coordinated quality care they need.”

These funds also will support states and communities in their ongoing efforts to pursue the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, particularly efforts to increase access to HIV care and reduce HIV-related health disparities.

For information about HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment, research, and use of new media in response to HIV/AIDS visit AIDS.gov.

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The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). Federal funds are awarded to agencies located around the country, which in turn deliver care to eligible individuals under funding categories called Parts. First authorized in 1990, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is currently funded at more than $2 billion. For more information about the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, visit hab.hrsa.gov.